Latest news with #OfficeofEquity
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Harvard Commits to Change After Studies Find Antisemitism, Islamophobia Have Seeped Into Coursework and Campus Life
Harvard released two highly anticipated reports on campus antisemitism and Islamophobia on Tuesday, each finding that anti-Israel and anti-Muslim bias is seeping into coursework and campus life. Then-interim President Alan Garber convened two separate task forces in January 2024 to study the campus tensions over conflict in the Middle East. The task forces published initial findings in June 2024, but the teams' final reports were delayed following conflict with the Trump administration. 'The 2023-24 academic year was disappointing and painful,' Garber wrote in a letter to the campus community. 'I am sorry for the moments when we failed to meet the high expectations we rightfully set for our community.' The Department of Human Health and Services' Office for Civil Rights demanded Harvard turn over the reports by Friday, so the task forces published the combined 532-page studies on Tuesday, three days before that deadline. The antisemitism task force found that anti-Israel sentiment had extended into coursework, social life, the hiring of some faculty members and the worldview of certain academic programs. The anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian bias task force found that students in that community found alienation and general discomfort on campus, with 92% of Muslim students surveyed saying they believed they would face academic or professional penalty for theirs political ideologies. Both task forces called for anti-bullying policies, greater consistency in disciplinary policies and more respectful and encouraging discourse as potential solutions. Each report also expressed that students in the respective communities were cyber-bullied, pressured to hide their identities for fear of doxxing and pushed to the fringes of campus life. But the reports diverged and provided conflicting recommendations, as well. The anti-Muslim task force asked the university to reconsider its stance on 'divestment, disclosure and engagement' with Israeli companies, while the antisemitism task force noted that the divestment movement on campus alienated Israeli and Jewish students. The anti-Muslim task force also recommended increasing the discourse on Palestine, while the antisemitism task force criticized the university for offering one-sided, pro-Palestine courses. President Garber wrote in his email that Harvard will start a research project on antisemitism, support a historical analysis of Muslims, Arabs and Palestinians at Harvard, and speed up the establishment of an initiative to promote viewpoint diversity, per the groups' suggestions. Some other recommendations from the task force have already been implemented: Harvard has adjusted its protest rules, restricted its ability to comment on political matters and initiated programming on constructive dialogue. Some mandated Trump administration demands align with findings from the antisemitism report, specifically that many Jewish students did not feel welcomed by the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Harvard has since renamed that office and adjusted its mandate. These reports come after the Ivy League university sued the Trump administration for its 'unlawful' $2.2 billion freeze on federal grants and research funds, saying the administration was trying to 'punish Harvard for protecting its constitutional rights.' 'The tradeoff put to Harvard and other universities is clear: Allow the government to micromanage your academic institution or jeopardize the institution's ability to pursue medical breakthroughs, scientific discoveries and innovative solutions,' Harvard's lawyers wrote in the April 21 filing. The post Harvard Commits to Change After Studies Find Antisemitism, Islamophobia Have Seeped Into Coursework and Campus Life appeared first on TheWrap.
Int'l Business Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Harvard Renames DEI Office to "Community and Campus Life" Amid Federal Pressure
People gather to take photos with the John Harvard Statue at Harvard University on April 17, 2025 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard University announced on April 28, 2025, that it will immediately rename its Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (OEDIB) to the Office of Community and Campus Life. The decision comes as the Trump administration escalates its efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programming at universities, threatening billions in federal funding. The move has sparked debate about whether Harvard is conceding to political pressure or strategically adapting to a shifting landscape. The renaming was detailed in an email from Sherri A. Charleston, previously Harvard's chief diversity officer and now the chief Community and Campus Life officer. Charleston wrote, "In the weeks and months ahead, we will take steps to make this change concrete and to work with all of Harvard's schools and units to implement these vital objectives, including shared efforts to reexamine and reshape the missions and programs of offices across the university." The announcement followed two April letters from federal agencies demanding that Harvard dismantle its DEI initiatives or face a $2.2 billion federal funding freeze, which the university is now challenging through a lawsuit. The rebranded office will prioritize expanding cross-cultural engagement, supporting first-generation and low-income students, and fostering dialogue across ideological differences. Charleston cited a 2024 campus-wide Pulse Survey, noting that while many at Harvard feel a strong sense of belonging, fewer feel comfortable expressing divergent viewpoints. This, she argued, underscores the need to reimagine how Harvard builds community with a focus on free expression. The decision has drawn mixed reactions. Some see it as a pragmatic response to federal pressure, while others view it as a retreat from Harvard's commitment to DEI. Posts on X reflect this divide, with one user stating, "Harvard has renamed its Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging to 'Community and Campus Life'. The explanatory text is quite strong, and we will see what programmatic changes follow. Regardless of influence of federal pressure, seems like a positive development." Another user remarked sarcastically, "Wow they just be like 'whatever you say daddy' #DEI," highlighting skepticism about Harvard's motives. NEW: Harvard renamed its DEI office on Monday as it faces a surge of federal pressure. Effective immediately, Harvard's Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging will be renamed to "Community and Campus Life." More in @thecrimsonhttps:// — Dhruv Patel (@dhruvtkpatel) April 28, 2025 Harvard's legal battle against the Trump administration intensified this month, with the university suing over the $2.2 billion funding freeze, which it calls an "unconstitutional campaign" to punish its resistance to federal demands. The administration's push includes additional threats, such as a potential $1 billion cut in health research funding and investigations into Harvard's programs, like the Harvard Law Review, for alleged discrimination. The renaming also coincides with Harvard's decision to end funding and support for affinity group celebrations during commencement, a move attributed to federal warnings against race-based programming. Last year, Harvard hosted celebrations for groups including Black, Latinx, and first-generation graduates, but these events will no longer receive university resources, leaving student organizers uncertain about their future. Critics argue that the rebranding may dilute the focus on equity and inclusion, which Charleston herself emphasized in a 2021 interview with The Harvard Crimson. Reflecting on OEDIB's work, she said, "We saw in various spaces that there was a clarion call to make sure that we were not forgetting the equity component." That commitment now appears to be reframed under a broader mission, raising questions about how Harvard will balance its stated values with external pressures. As Harvard navigates this contentious period, the university's actions are being closely watched. Its lawsuit against the Trump administration and the rebranding of OEDIB signal a complex strategy: publicly resisting federal overreach while making concessions that could reshape its approach to diversity and inclusion. Whether the Office of Community and Campus Life will maintain the spirit of its predecessor remains to be seen, but for now, Harvard is charting a new course in a polarized climate. Originally published on University Herald
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Want to save $19.5 million? Republican lawmaker says cut the Office of Equity
This story was originally published on Republicans in the Washington State Legislature have an idea to close the budget gap. They say they could save taxpayers $19.5 million with legislation eliminating the Office of Equity. Democrats are not on board. House Bill 1959 is sponsored by Rep. Jeremie Dufault (R-Selah). The bill says this move would help ensure proper funding for 'safe streets, excellent schools, protection of the most vulnerable, and reliable, high quality infrastructure, while allowing individuals, families, and businesses to thrive.' 'If the office of equity has strong public support, it could be reconstituted to operate as a nonprofit organization but will no longer be serviced at taxpayer expense,' the bill reads. Related from MyNorthwest: Rally held at UW to protest Trump's funding cuts: 'We're seeing graduate programs actually freezing' Democrats unlikely to cut the Office of Equity The Washington State Legislative Black Caucus (WSLBC) strongly opposes the bill, arguing that it undermines efforts to address racial and social justice issues for marginalized groups. They insist the Office of Equity plays a vital role in addressing systemic inequities faced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) within state agencies and public policy. 'This attempt to strip away resources dedicated to dismantling racial disparities is not only shortsighted but also deeply harmful,' the WSLBC said in a statement. 'It sends a message that the state is abandoning its commitment to equity, undermining the work that has been done to lift up marginalized communities, and failing to acknowledge the ongoing struggles that many people of color experience in education, health care, employment, and criminal justice.' The bill has been referred to the Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations for further review.
